Automatic radio station selector



Feb 1., 1938. E .BRUGGER AUTOMATIC RADIO STAT-ION SELECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet l l NVENTOR Original Filed March 24, 1939 BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1938. E. BRUGGER AUTOMATIC RADIO STATION SELECTOR Original Filed March 24, 1930 ."5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 1, 1938. EI BRUGGER 2,106,714

AUTOMATIC RADIO STATION SELECTOR Original Filed March 24, 1950 .3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented Feb. 1, 1933 UNiTED STATES iATENT CFFICE.

Application March 24,

1930, Serial N0. 438,292

Renewed September l, 1936 5 Claims.

This invention relates to radio receiving sets and its object is to provide mechanism operating in conjunction with the usual station selecting or tuning-in mechanism of such a receiving set to automatically select any one of a plurality of stations for radio reception at various predetermined times. The invention permits the user of a radio set having my invention applied thereto, to decide in advance what stations he desires to hear and the time when the particular station is to be heard and by the setting of a button, key or the like, the stations will be heard at the times set. For instance, if it is desired to hear music at 6 p. m. from a station which may be called A, a talk at seven oclock from a -station B, and a selection from an opera being broadcast from station C at ten oclock, then all that the user of my device need do is to set a hand on one dial to A, a second hand to B and a third hand to C, the dials used being those appropriated to the hours 6 p. rn., 7 p. m. and l0 p. m. respectively.

The radio set will then automatically be turned on or started at 6 p. m. and the music being broadcasted from station A will be properly tuned in. At 7 p. m. the matter being broadcasted from station B will be heard, and at ten oclock the opera will be heard. Between nine and ten oclock the radio set will be silent, it being automatically disconnected during that hour.

While the invention in its broad aspects may be practiced by various mechanical and electrical arrangements, for the purpose of the present disclosure I have shown one form which the invention may take, although it is to be understood that it is not in any way limited to the form shown.

Referring to the drawings accompanying the specification- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of o the panel board of a radio set having my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view on a very much larger scale than Figure 1 showing the mechanism inside the casing, the casing being broken away to show the mechanism at the left and right portions respectively;

Figure 3 is an elevation inside the casing oi the mechanism shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure u 3; and

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram. showing some of the parts diagrammatically for the purpose of more ready identification with the mechanical constructions shown in the other iigures.

Referring to the drawings in detail, i indicates the front panel board of a radio receiving set. Just inside the panel board there is shown one element 2 of a selecting or tuning-in mechanism which, in the present drawings, is illustrated as a condenser. The radio set may have a number of these and, if so, they are usually connected by means of a pulley such as shown at 4 and a belt 6. In Figure 1 there are diagrammaticaliy indicated three of these condensers or selecting mechanisms, but in the following description and in the claims, this mechanism, whether consisting of several connected mechanisms or a single mechanism, will be referred to as a selecting mechanism or station selecting mechanisrn. As shown, the movable member of this mechanism is mounted on a shaft 8, and the usual dial l may be provided for setting the same by hand, said dial being visible through a sight opening 9. However, my invention contemplates the automatic setting of this mechanism, and while various means to accomplish the end may be employed, I have shown for the purpose of illustrating my invention, an electric motor Ill, Figures 2 and 3, which motor has a shaft i2 carrying a worm I4 which engages with a Worm wheel H5 carried by a shaft Il supported at one end in an upstanding bracket I8 and at the other end by a bearing 2U. A friction clutch I9 enables the motor to drive shaft 8 but permits hand setting of the selecting mechanism. t

In the usual radio set the selecting mechanism 2 is movable through a range of radio reception corresponding to the different wave lengths, and by rotating this selecting mechanism various stations are selected.

According to my invention, the motor I0 is used to move this selecting mechanism throughout its entire arc of movement and where this arc is limited, as it frequently is, to about 180, I have provided a motor which may be reversed.

The selection of a particular station is accomplished through means which Will now be described.

Mounted on the shaft 8 for movement therewith is a contact ring 22 insulated from the shaft by a ring of non-conducting material indicated at 24, Figures 3 and 5.

Arising from the casing of the radio set is an arcuate frame 26, the upper portion of which is shown in section in Figure 4, said frame having its upper portion formed with an arcuate dovetailed groove 28 for the support of station selectors 3G. Each of these consists of a recessed portion for the reception of a brush 32, the latter bearing upon the contact ring 22, and each brush 55 having a pin to which is connected a lead wire. A screw 34 provides a means for holding any one of the selectors in proper' position, and it is obvious that by loosening the screw the selector can be moved along the arcuate slot 28 and thereby properly adjust the selector in accordance with the station to be selected by it, in a manner to be presently described. It is to be understood that there is one of these selectors for each station desired. In order, however, not to make the drawings and description too complicated I have shown but three of these selectors and they are indicated by A, B, and C respectively, these letters indicating three diierent broadcasting stations. It is, of course, obvious that the number of selectors may be increased or diminished at will. For this purpose and referring to Figure 3, the lower portion of the groove 28 is cut away slightly at 5.56 to permit the insertion of a selector. Also supported by the frame 25 is a permanent contact 38 having a spring pressed contact member 40 which bears against the contact ring 22. The electric leads from the brushes 32 are indicated at 42, 44, and 46, Figures 3 and 5, and from the brush 48 there is a lead t8.

Under control of station selecting devices which will be later described in detail. a circuit may be preselected which will include the lead 42 for station A, lead 44 for station B and lead #i6 for station C. Means are also provided whereby at a particular time a current will be established through the selected brush. For the purpose of understanding the operation of the motor and without attempting at this time to trace all of the circuits, it will be assumed that a circuit has been established through the brush 3 2 at station A. The current will then pass from the brush 32 to the ring 22 and through brush 4t to lead and the motor will be started, its movement being, for instance, in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 5. When the station selecting mechanism of the radio set has been turned to the position corresponding to the station selected, for instance, station A, the circuit through the contact ring 2 is interrupted and the motor stops. The motor is so geared that the motion of the selecting mechanism is comparatively slow, and due to the friction of the parts, there is no over running of the motor, and a very accurate positioning of the selecting mechanism may be had.

If a circuit is established through the contact corresponding to station B, then the selecting mechanism would be moved to that position and the motor will again be stopped. The same applies for any of the other stations.

The descriptions of the circuit and the motor reversing mechanism have been deferred until the station selecting devices have been described together with the time controlled devices for determining when a station circuit is to be established.

Referring now to the left hand portion of Figure 2, a clock mechanism or constant speed motor, is diagrammatically shown at 5S. On a shaft which makes one rotation an hour there is a clutch member 52 cooperating with a similar clutch member 54 on a longitudinally slidable shaft 55 properly supported in the casing. This shaft is urged to clutch engaging position by a spring 58, the end of the shaft being provided with a knob GG by which the shaft may be pulled out and the clutch disconnected for the purpose of setting the parts as will hereinafter be described. Turnable with the shaft 5B is a dial 52 having numerals from to 55 spaced at 5 minute intervals, about its periphery, said numerals being visible through a sight opening in the casing, as shown in Figure 3. The shaft G also carries an arm '34 which once an hour engages a tooth o a star wheel 66 and moves it one tooth. The star wheel is in constant engagement with another star wheel 68 secured to the shaft a light detent l@ acting against the latter wheel. This shaft 63 carries a dial wheel 55 having numerals l to l2 in two series representing the 24 hours of the day. These numerals are visible through a sight opening which is below the minute sight opening. The star wheel 53 is supported on a shaft which also carries an electric distributing disk l2 having near its periphery a bracket 'if'. carrying a spring pressed contact member l. The disk l2 rotates with the star wheel 56 and brings the contact member TG successively into engagement with contact pins 18 arranged about a stationary disk SG. The contact pins represent time intervals, and there may be any desired number depending upon the shortest time interval which it is desired to use. Ordinarily halfhour intervals may be sufcient but quarter-hour intervals may be used. In the present illustration I have shown hour intervals to simplify the description and drawings. Contact pins 'i8 are insulated from each other, being spaced about the periphery of a stationary disk 86 which is of nonconducting material. Curent is supplied to the distributing disk l2 by a contact brush Sii carried by a pawl 35 pivotcd at 33 in an upright bracket 9S and pressed by a spring G2 into engagement with the teeth of the star wheel '66. The pawl 8E is provided with a laterally extending head which provides a housing for the contact brush which brush has a pin Si! projecting laterally therefrom and into an elongated slot in the housing, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

The current for operating the Various mechanisms including the local operating circuit for the radio set, is supplied from any suitable sourcand in the present drawings this sou ne, as shown at Figure 5, is an ordinary electric light socket The current flows from the plus side of this source of current through the lead to the brush 84. A direct connection is shown in Figure 5, which is merely diagrammatic, out in Fh i' a circuit breaker is interposed for reasons which will presently appear. In said latter figure, the lead 34 is indicated as passing to a pole piece 95 suitably insulated by a lock 95 from the bracket A suitably supported bracket Sl c rries a contact arm 5Fl, said being of sufficiently elastic rr. .l to normally engage the polo and conduct tne current to the brush 8i by means of the wire When, however, the arm G4 is in the act of turni.. J the star wheel E55 and therein.'

causing a backward movement of the pai/vl said y pawl, b3 reason oi a rear: dlg.7 projecting insulating portion lila?, engages the arm CS an'l rs the contact at the pole Eli during the instant the wheel S6 makes its nal iumn The purpose of this is to prevent noises in the radio loud A light iii?, tends to hold the brush Fifi f i a' d the slotI in pawl per tue to b. -d the pin in enga ment while thel pau-'l is pushed back by the Le of the wheel. The spring ificontained wit.

the pawl housing and moves baci-f'. Cfiin the and at this time the. pressure wh.L

`ch it exerts on the pin S11 is very slight, thus relieving the clock driven arm 64 of the friction which would other- 'Z5 wise tendto retard the movement of thewheel 66.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that once every hour the arm 64 will turn the star wheel 66 one step and with it the distributing disk l2 and the contact member '|6. During the rst part of the turning of the star wheel 66 under the positive drive of the arm 64, the contact 'I6 will move along the slightly inclined face of its engaged contact pin T8, and during this time the pawl 86 will be pushed backward. During the rst part of this movement the current through the arm 98 will be maintained, but when the lost motion between the arm and the insulating block |00 is taken up, this contact will be broken and immediately thereafter the star wheel will have been turned `to such a position that the point of the star wheel will engage the lower inclined face of the pawl 66, and the spring 92 acting on the pawl will quickly jump the star Wheel the remaining portion of its step of movement and the contact 16 will also jump quickly to the next contact pin 18. The contact pin 18, with which the contact member 16 engages, determines the time when the selected radio station will become effective.

It will now be in order to describe the devices whereby any one of a plurality of stations may be preselected so that they may be tuned in at a definite time as controlled by the timing element.

Referring to Figure 1, I have shown diagrammatically a number of station selecting devices in the form of rotatable buttons I 03. While these are shown only as representing the hours between (i and 12 a, m. and p. m. it is obvious that a greater number or a lesser number could be used, or buttons could be provided for every half hour or even smaller periods of time if desired. The number of buttons, however, would ordinarily correspond to the number of contact pins 18 and from each contact pin, shown diagrammatically in the wire circuit, Figure 5, there extends a circuit wire |04 connected at |05 to a switch arm |06, see also Figure 2. Each button |03 is provided with a pointer |01 for indicating the particular station to which the arm |06 is to be placed in electrical communication. The arm |06 occupies an off position as shown for the 8 p. m. button, Figure 5. If moved to the position marked A, as shown for the 9 p. m. button, the circuit may be traced as follows, it being noted that the brush 'i6 is in contact with the 9 p. m. pin T8.

From the source of supply 93 the current passes through wire 94, through contact arm 95, switch member 98, wire 99, to brush 04, Figure 3. It then passes to the distributing ring 12, thence to the brush T0 and through the pin 18 to wire |04, to arm |06 of the 9 p. rn. button. It then passes along wire |08 to wire I0, to lead 42 and brush 32 corresponding to the selected station, in this case. station A. From brush 32 it passes to the conducting ring 22, through brush 40, to wire 48, to pole piece ||2 and along a switch arm |4 to pole piece I6, thence along wire l I8 to pole piece |20, conducting arm |22, pole piece |24, wire |26, eld |32, wire |34 to pole piece |36 and along conducting arm |38 to pole piece |40, wire |42, to wire |44 and to the minus pole of the source of electrical energy. Current also passes along wire |l8 to brush |30 through the motor armature to brush |28, wire ||8 to pole piece |20.

The circuit being completed through the motor it will start in operation and through the worm and worm gear will turn the ring 22 and the station selecting mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 2, Figure 2. The direction of turning of the motor under these conditions is indicated by the arrow on the ring 22 and said motion is anti-clockwise.

For the purpose of arresting the motor at the proper point, that is to say when the station selecting mechanism has been turned to a position whereby the desired station is tuned in, the ring 22 is provided with an insulated cup |46 set into its periphery. When this insulated portion theren fore comes opposite the brush 02 of selector A, the circuit is broken through the motor and the motor immediately stops and the selection of that station has been effected.

At the same time the local operating circuit for the radio set is established and for this purpose the insulated cup |46 has set into it a conducting element |48 connected by a wire |50 with a pole piece |5| from which leads a wire |52 to the radio set |54, the current passing through the set and out through the wire |44 to the minus side of the line. The Wire |50 is coiled so that as` the disk 22 rotates the coils of the wire |50 will open up so that Contact between the element |48 and the pole piece |5| will be constantly established.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the position of the arm |06 associated with the nine oclock button will result in the tuning in of station A at nine oclock. The selected station will be heard for one hour, at the end of which hour the pin 'I8 corresponding to ten oclock will be positioned opposite the contact or brush 'I6 and if the arm |06 corresponding to ten oclock is at the off position there will be no tuning in at this time. If, however, the arm v|06 correspending to ten oclock has been set to any station then that particular' station will be selected. Any arm |06 may of course be moved from the station to any other during the time interval that the contact 'I6 is in engagement with the segment 10. When the arm is so moved current through the radio set is immediately broken but is reestablished when the selecting mechanism has been positioned to select the new station.

In the diagram of Figure 5 the lower arm |06 is shown as positioned for station B, it being understood that at ten oclock the brush 16 is in contact with the pin '|8 immediately to the left of the one shown as in contact with 16, in Figure 5. Under such a positioning of the parts the current would then pass along wire |04 to the arm |06 corresponding to the ten oclock button and through wire |56, wire E58 and lead 44 to brush 32 corresponding to station B.

It will be remembered that upon the operation of the motor as previously described in connection with the setting for station A at nine oclock the insulated cup |46 was positioned in line with selector A. There has been no change in the motor circuit and therefore at ten oclock the motor will again begin to operate because current is now supplied through brush 32 of selector B to the ring 22 and thence to the motor as previously traced. It therefore becomes necessary in the particular embodiment shown, to reverse the motor and this is accomplished by two pins .|60 and |62. As the disk 22 moves in the direction of the arrow, Figure 5, the pin |60 will contact the upstanding portion |64 of a reversing bar |66 and move said bar to the right. This bar carries a spring |68 connected to a link |10 which link connects the two conducting arms |22 and |38 and when the bar |66 has moved suiiciently far to bring' the pull of the spring on the right side of the pivot |20 the spring will act to quickly snap the conducting arms from the position shown in Figure 5 to a position where the arm |22 will contact with pole piece |72 while the arm |38 will contact with pole piece |24. The current through the motor will then be reversed and the motor will begin to move in the opposite direction until the insulated cup comes in line with pin 32 of selector B when the motor will again stop and station B will have been selected. At the same time and in the manner previously described, the local operating circuit for the radio set will be established. It will be noted that all of the contacts leading from the pole pieces corresponding to station A oi each button are connected together, all of the pole pieces corresponding to B being connected together and the pole pieces corresponding to C, and so on for other stations which might be provided.

Reversibility of the motor from a clockwise direction of movement to an anti-clockwise direction is brought about by pin |62 acting on projections |64 in a way similar to that already described in connection with pin |60.

It may be desirable to have the time when the radio set is to be rendered effective controlled by the clock mechanism but it may also be desirable to select the stations by hand, as is customary. This variation of control may be effected by means of the switch arm |4 which for automatic station selecting occupies the position shown in Figure 5. By moving the arm |4 from the position shown in Figure 5 to a position in contact with the pole pieces H4 and |76, time control only can be effected. The arm H4 has a conducting head |18 insulated from the main arm by a non-conducting washer or other suitable element |80. Therefore, When the arm |4 is moved to bridge the poles |'i4 and |16, current no longer passes to the motor since contact at I6 is broken.

When the invention is used in this way the arm |6 corresponding to the time when it is desired that the radio set shall be automatically made effective must be moved to a position to contact with a conducting segment |32, and hence when the circuit is closed by the timing element the current passes from this segment |82 along Wire E84 to wire |06 to pole piece |16, to pole piece H4, through wire |86, to the radio set |54 and to the other side of the circuit.

It may also be desirable to have the radio set play without any automatic control whatever and for this purpose the arm H4 is moved to a third position Where its conducting head piece |78 bridges the pole pieces |88 and |89, thereby establishing a circuit from the plus side of the line, through wire |90, Wire |9l, |92, |93, through the radio set and to the other side of the line through wire |44.

The station selecting buttons |03 may be in a separate casing and located at a distance from the radio set and the switch ||4 may likewise be so located.

The clutch members 52 and 54 and the shaft 56 with its knob 60 provide a means to set the contact 'I6 at the proper position corresponding to the time, in case the clock mechanism has stopped, during a longer or shorter interval of time. rlhe numbers of the disk 62 and on the star wheel 68 enable this to be done.

W'hat is claimed as new is:

1. In a radio receiving set having a local cperating circuit and station selecting mechanism. in combination a motor for moving said mechanism through an arc corresponding to a range of radio reception, a contact ring movable in accordance with said selecting mechanism and having electrical connections with said motor, station selectors having brushes engaging said ring and located at positions corresponding to station positions of said selecting mechanism, a member having contacts corresponding to various time intervals, and means for connecting any time contact and any station selecting brush to energize said motor at a predetermined time, and means for breaking the motor circuit and establishing the local operating circuit when the station selecting mechanism has moved to a position determined by the connected brush.

2. In a radio receiving set having a local operating circuit and station selecting mechanism, in combination a motor for moving said mechanism through an arc corresponding to a range of radio reception, a contact ring movable in accordance with said selecting mechanism and having electrical connections with said motor, selectors having brushes engaging said ring and spaced about its periphery at locations corresponding to the station selecting positions of said selecting mechanisms, a member having contacts corresponding to various time intervals, means for connecting any time contact with any station selecting brush, a time controlled member for establishing a selected circuit at a definite time to thereby energize said motor, means for breaking the motor circuit and connecting the local operating circuit when the station selecting mechanism has. been moved to a position determined by the connected brush.

3. In a radio receiving set having a local operating circuit and station selecting mechanism, in combination a motor for moving said mechanism through an arc corresponding to a range of radio reception, a contact ring movable in accordance with said selecting mechanism and having electrical connection with said motor, selectors having brushes engaging said ring and spaced about its periphery at locations corresponding to the station selecting positions of said selecting mechanism, a member having contacts corresponding to various time intervals, settable devices correspondng to said time contacts, circuits controlled by said settable means, a time controlled member, means operated thereby for establishing a selected circuit at a definite time whereby the selected time contact is connected with the selected brush to thereby energize the said motor at the predetermined time, means for breaking the motor circuit when the station selecting mechanism has been moved to a position determined by the connected brush and concomitantly closing said local operating circuit.

4. A radio set having station selecting mechanism and an operating circuit for the set, in combination, a timing mechanism, a single settable member positionable to select different stations, means under control of said settable member and said timing mechanism to move said selecting mechanism to the Station selected and to close the operating circuit at the instant said selecting mechanism is positioned at the station selected, and means when said member is moved to a different station during the existing time interval of a given period to break the operating circuit through said rst means and to cause the selecting mechanism to be positioned to the new station selected and to reestablish the operating circuit at the instant said selecting mechanism has been so positioned.

5. A radio set having station selecting mech- 10 and means when said vmember is moved to its neutral position to. break the operating circuit through said first means and when moved from any station selecting position to another to break the operating circuit through said first means, cause the selecting mechanism to be positioned to the new station selected and reestablish the operating circuit at the instant said selecting mechanism is so positioned.

EMILE BRUGGER. 

